Oxnard-Ventura at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Oxnard-Ventura
8
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
74.1
Spartan Los Angeles
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Oxnard-Ventura Metro
210
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$79,590
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.74
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 37100).
Naval Base Ventura County, Ventura County's largest employer, hosts a Fleet Readiness Center Southwest detachment at Point Mugu that performs depot-level aircraft maintenance, including an integrated maintenance program for the E-2 Hawkeye. Aircraft mechanics in the metro earn a median $79,590, close to the U.S. median of $79,870.
Training means a drive toward the Los Angeles basin. North Valley Occupational Center in Van Nuys is 40.8 miles away and runs a tuition-free program, though it carries a long enrollment wait. West Los Angeles College, 48.7 miles out in Culver City, partners with American Airlines. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood is 50.4 miles away.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Oxnard-Ventura
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Oxnard-Ventura, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Oxnard-Ventura
Best Outcomes Near Oxnard-Ventura
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus
Highest overall score of the 8 ranked schools, 74.1 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 7 ranked schools that report one: 64%.
Most Affordable Near Oxnard-Ventura
Lowest comparable program cost of the 4 ranked schools with one: $2,208, from IPEDS in-state tuition and the published length.
Oxnard-Ventura Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Oxnard-Ventura
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Oxnard-Ventura, ordered by score. Scores are national, out of 100, and the table after the cards shows the points behind them.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Oxnard-Ventura.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Oxnard-Ventura
- Best Outcomes Near Oxnard-Ventura
#1
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Los Angeles Campus
Inglewood, California 50 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #2 nationally
74.1 of 100
This program fits students who want a choice between an 18-month diploma or a 22-month associate degree, both covering the Airframe and Powerplant ratings, at Spartan's main campus in Inglewood, California.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma; Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
- Length
- Diploma: 18 Months; Associate of Occupational Studies: 22 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Day Shift (Airframe & Powerplant Diploma, Mon-Fri 7:30am-1:45pm)
- Starts
- 1/5/26; 3/16/26; 5/26/26; 8/3/26; 9/8/26; 11/16/26
-
#2
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California 83 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #7 nationally
69.4 of 100
This program fits a working adult in Orange County who needs evening, weekend, or online scheduling and wants airframe, powerplant, avionics, and helicopter maintenance training under one roof.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Certificate of Specialization; Certificate of Achievement; plus 1 more
- Length
- Certificate of Achievement: less than 2 years; Associate Degree: under 4 years
- Cost
- $46, per unit, in-state (CA resident)
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Evening, Weekend, and Online Courses
- Avionics
- Avionics track
-
- Most Affordable Near Oxnard-Ventura
#3
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California 93 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #9 nationally
67.0 of 100
This program fits students who want avionics training added to their airframe and powerplant coursework, on a two-year track toward an associate degree in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate degree (Airframe and Powerplant AS); Certificate - Airframe and Powerplant Technician; plus 2 more
- Length
- 2-year curriculum
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Avionics
- Aircraft Electrical and Avionics Technician certificate
-
#4
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California 79 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #10 nationally
66.5 of 100
This program suits California residents who want a public two-year path to an AS degree or certificate in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, at a $2,760 total in-state cost with day or evening class options in Walnut, California.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AS; Certificate
- Length
- two years
- Cost
- $2,760, total program, in-state (A.S. degree, 60 units)
- Schedule
- day or evening
- Starts
- Next potential application period opens April 2027 for a fall 2027 start
-
#5
West Los Angeles College
Culver City, California 49 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #36 nationally
57.0 of 100
This fits Los Angeles-area students who want a public college program offering airframe, powerplant, and avionics paths, including a bachelor's option.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Bachelor's Degree (Avionics); Associate Degree; plus 2 more
- Length
- twenty-three-month continuing program
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- Morning, afternoon, or evening sections
-
#6
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys, California 41 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #151 nationally
39.7 of 100
This program suits Los Angeles-area students who want a tuition-free, public path to General, Airframe, and Powerplant certificates through Los Angeles Unified School District's adult education division, though it currently carries a minimum two-year enrollment wait.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Certificate in General; Certificate in Airframe; plus 1 more
- Cost
- Tuition-free
-
#7
Antelope Valley College
Lancaster, California 67 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #161 nationally
38.6 of 100
This program fits students near Lancaster who want a public community college route into aerospace manufacturing, with composites fabrication training and direct partnerships with Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate in Science degree
-
#8
California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, California 86 miles from Oxnard-Ventura #198 nationally
30.8 of 100
This is a for-profit certificate and degree program, so it fits someone in Bakersfield who wants year-round, fast-paced training with GI Bill benefits and direct employer networking.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Diploma; Associate of Science Degree
- Length
- Diploma: 17 months; Associate of Science Degree: 22 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartan Los Angeles | 74.1 | 27.1 | † | 14 | 15 | 5.5 |
| 2 | Orange Coast College | 69.4 | 22.9 | † | 20 | 10 | 4 |
| 3 | Chaffey College | 67.0 | 12.3 | 24.9 | 20 | 5 | 4.8 |
| 4 | Mt. SAC | 66.5 | 21.2 | 23.7 | 6 | 10 | 5.6 |
| 5 | West Los Angeles College | 57.0 | 3.2 | 24.4 | 14 | 10 | 5.4 |
| 6 | North Valley Occupational Center | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 7 | Antelope Valley College | 38.6 | 10.5 | † | 6 | 0 | 9.6 |
| 8 | CalAero | 30.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 14 | 5 | 0.9 |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in California ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Oxnard-Ventura
Aircraft mechanics in the Oxnard-Ventura metro area earn a median of $79,590 a year ($38.27 an hour), $6,510 below the California median of $86,100.
Oxnard-Ventura Pay vs. California and U.S. Medians
The Oxnard-Ventura median is $280 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the California aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Oxnard-Ventura
BLS counts 210 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Oxnard-Ventura metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.74.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Military Depot
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Site Point Mugu
Navy depot-level aircraft maintenance detachment at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu
Naval Base Ventura County hosts a Fleet Readiness Center Southwest detachment at Point Mugu that performs depot-level maintenance work, including an integrated maintenance program for the E-2 Hawkeye, as part of a base that is Ventura County's largest employer.
Base population of more than 19,000 personnel
Source: Naval Base Ventura County - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
Local Context
A Navy Depot Maintenance Site at Point Mugu
Naval Base Ventura County hosts a Fleet Readiness Center Southwest detachment at Point Mugu that performs depot-level aircraft maintenance work, including an integrated maintenance program for the E-2 Hawkeye. The base stands as Ventura County's largest employer.
Depot-level work at a Navy detachment differs from airline hangar maintenance: technicians overhaul specific aircraft types on a fixed program schedule rather than turning around a mixed commercial fleet. That gives Oxnard-Ventura a steady maintenance employer tied to military rather than airline demand.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Oxnard-Ventura: Common Questions
What Schools Near Oxnard-Ventura Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Oxnard-Ventura?
What Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Oxnard-Ventura?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Oxnard-Ventura?
Do Hours at Naval Base Ventura County Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas
Sources for School and Pay Data
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011)
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Fleet Readiness Center Southwest - Site Point Mugu: Naval Base Ventura County - Wikipedia
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.